4 or 5 string basses

JCartwright · #1 10-06-2010, 04:04 PM

Hi Justin,

I switched from playing 4 strings to 5 about 4 years ago, and although i don't really rely on the lower notes on the B string, it's always useful to have them there.

Anyway, I've decided to build myself a P bass to compliment my 5 string J style bass, but i don't know wether to go with a 4 or 5 string.

I assume, with your rather huge collection of instruments, that you have had both 4 and 5 string basses, and I was wondering if you found that when going from a 5 string to a 4 string, you found that it pushed you to be more creative, or if you felt limited in any way by the decrease in range.

I have also posted this question in the ask Janek section of the site, I hope that's not a problem, just looking for some different opinions.

Thanks for your time,
Joe

jmjbassplayer · #2 10-07-2010, 08:33 AM

You are asking the WRONG guy.

I have a huge bias to 4 string basses, man. I am the Steve Albini of 4 string bass.

I think that the fact that one of my basses I'm relying on to record stuff in my own studio right now has two strings might answer your question about the joys of limitation.

JMJ

jimmy rocket · #3 10-07-2010, 02:37 PM

Like everything else on TB this is all IME and YMMV, but I've never really understood the push toward 5 strings. I've succumbed to it once, however, and what I've found is that I tend to be more creative on a 4 banger. I found myself in your camp with all the guys (and gals) who "never really use the B, but it's nice to have it around."

After owning a 5 string for a few years I realized that for me, the 5th string boxed me in creatively because I was thinking about the notes and not the feel. If I were the sort of person who played 5's almost exclusively I would probably feel differently about the whole thing because it's probably a matter of proficiency on my part, but by the time I feel confident with a line on a 5, I would already be rocking the hell out of it on a 4.

JimmyM · #4 10-08-2010, 12:34 AM

i feel the same way, jimmy. i fully respect anyone's right to use whatever they want, but nowadays my 5 string is a practice tool and a bass i play out on only when someone offering me money insists on it. and the last time that happened was 2002

pbass2 · #5 10-08-2010, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i feel the same way, jimmy. i fully respect anyone's right to use whatever they want, but nowadays my 5 string is a practice tool and a bass i play out on only when someone offering me money insists on it. and the last time that happened was 2002

I've only ever had a client insist that I DON'T bring a five string!

On more than one occasion.

christoph h. · #6 10-08-2010, 08:39 AM

I own 5- and 4-string basses and play both regularly. My first "real" bass was a 5-string so they feel natural to me. But after getting a 4-string later on I soon felt that I had been missing something.

I don't know whether it's caused by a difference in attack, weight, size or whatever but the two are really different instruments. They feel nothing alike and I play very different stuff on them. (EDIT: By that I mean they inspire me in a very different way!)

I can absolutely understand someone who relies on and has developed a clear musical vision finding he can not express himself the way he wants on one of them. Of course, this works both ways, compare Justin to Anthony Jackson for example.

JimmyM · #7 10-08-2010, 09:18 AM

oh sure, the 5 and 6 have their reasons for being. otherwise people wouldn't play them. i sure don't mind watching rob trujillo play a 5. but i played a 5 exclusively for a couple years in the 90's and lost a couple gigs i really wanted because of it. so you will get pockets of anti-5 prejudice if it's your only bass. it's a decision that should be left up to the player in a perfect world, but who ever said it's a perfect world?

baileyboy · #8 10-08-2010, 09:20 AM

Jaco only needed 4 strings, heh heh...

jimmy rocket · #9 10-08-2010, 09:22 AM

Yeah, I think that's a good point. I've known people who just feel at home on fivers and can really use the instrument to be very musically creative, but that seems to be people for whom the 5 (or 6) string bass is a clear extension of their musical vision.

I used to play the saxophone and hated it. I switched to trumpet and the thing made sense to me in a way that the sax never did. Something about the "simplicity" of 3 valves connected creatively in my brain and I found myself making real music.

tdub0199 · #10 10-08-2010, 09:22 AM

I have played 5er's for a while and just decided a couple of months ago that the 4 bangers are just ME... I have to agree with Jimmy Rocket.. i feel more creative on a 4 string...

dalkowski · #11 10-08-2010, 09:28 AM

I've been a 4-string partisan forever (Jaco only needed 4 and all that), but I'm starting to reconsider strictly from a COMFORT standpoint. Playing "Green Onions" last night (on a P) I felt like my wrist was going to explode from sitting on the low F for so long. And I have pretty long arms. Until we drop the song, a fiver would mitigate that issue.

odin70 · #12 10-08-2010, 09:39 AM

I prefer 4 , but i sometimes miss those low notes.

JCartwright · #13 10-08-2010, 01:10 PM

Thanks for the advice guys,
I'm leaning towards building a 4 string, but with a hipshot drop tuner on the E, but I'm sure i'll change my mind a bunch of times before i settle on a final design.

iceberg · #14 10-09-2010, 01:54 AM

4 city all the way! My whammy tracks 2 8ves down pretty sexy tho. Is that cheating..? http://www.talkbass.com/forum/images.../guitarist.gif

behndy · #15 10-09-2010, 02:26 AM

hurm. i'm on the "more comfortable with more strings" side i guess. i used a 4 for a long time. after taking a bit of a break i picked up a 6 string Spector Legend and felt at home within days. i have nothing against people that rock a 4 string exclusively. there are so many people that just KILL and prefer 4's. good for them. hating on that is like hating on somebody for preferring a pick. just stoopid. but i do miss the extra whenever i try out a 4 banger.

hell, Senor Claypool has a 1 string that he can do more on than i can on a 6.

...... thank goodness there's enough variety for everybody. yay! it's just like hookers!

DanRJBrasil · #16 10-09-2010, 05:20 AM

witha 5'er i find much more easier to transpose the tune key also I play in some bands that usually has detuned 1/2 key lower so for me is easier. As I have big hands a bigger neck is not diff to deal with but I like tight spacing tough

irvinz · #17 10-11-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

You are asking the WRONG guy.

I have a huge bias to 4 string basses, man. I am the Steve Albini of 4 string bass.

I think that the fact that one of my basses I'm relying on to record stuff in my own studio right now has two strings might answer your question about the joys of limitation.

JMJ

i'm trying to figure this out!

which two strings?

pharaohamps · #18 10-11-2010, 09:17 AM

I bet they're both tuned to E...

I only play 5vers, and while I miss the simplicity of the 4 sometimes, I can't do what I need to do in my band without one. I also love being able to play the low E in fifth position

jmjbassplayer · #19 10-11-2010, 10:00 AM

Tuned E and B.

Woodchuck · #20 10-12-2010, 09:38 AM

I went back to 4's, and love it!! Me and the BB2024: